Timestamp: Fall 30
"Well, balance will be very important so I want you practicing frequently on whatever you can, whether it's high or low. It will help you find your physical center so that when we move on to more complicated maneuvers you'll be able to slide into them with ease." Greco gestured her over to the grass pit since it had just been emptied. "For now, we're going to keep on a few of the simpler techniques and strikes you will learn." Once on the grass, he gestured her to the center, the staff in his own hands held lightly and easily while he let her setup. "This one is called the thrust."
He took his staff in a thumb to thumb grip and combined it with the duck hold, holding the staff close against his chest and elbow tucked towards his hip on the left side. Keeping the staff parallel to the ground, he thrust it towards the right first, sliding is right foot forwards until his weight was heavily resting on the right front foot, the rear left stretched and the knee only slightly bent. The jab put the weapon right at neck level, thrust forwards hard enough to hurt a target on impact. She observed that he kept the rear hand in a duck grip at max-range and subconsciously mimicked it with her own but without the power he provided in his targetless attack.
Then, the master shifted, his neck turning his head and his shoulders rotating ever so slightly to repeat the attack in the opposite direction, again aimed perfectly for the neck of an enemy. "As you can see, it's an easily switched and versatile attack, keeping you at maximum distance from your opponent while providing optimal strike. You want to be sure your elbow is kept flush with your body on the rear hand and that your balance is on ball and not the toes of your foot so that you can pivot around for an opposite attack. Let me see you do it now."
Vira took her stance, feet shoulder width apart at the start and her hands (knuckles up) on the staff. She slid her right foot forwards and thrust the weapon at the same time, her elbow tucked out somewhat instead of in. Immediately, Greco stepped in and corrected her with a hand at her elbow to direct the young woman's stance back into its correct posture. "Keep your elbow in, bend your wrist-" he manipulated her hand to its proper place. "Don't slide; step." He demonstrated again. The Endal nodded and reset herself for the attack.
She gripped the staff properly this time and then stepped instead of slid forwards, nostrils flaring as she thrust the head towards the neck of a target, her arm straight and her rear hand tucked close at chest level. Her elbow stayed down. The teen turned her head, shifted her shoulders, and thrust the opposite end of the staff in what had begun as the rear point. Her angle was too far up but before Greco could come to correct it in his firm way, she reset and tried again. Her left foot stepped forwards and she thrust the staff to the 'neck' of her opponent once more, grunting at the force exerted.
"Better. Let's move on."
"Well, balance will be very important so I want you practicing frequently on whatever you can, whether it's high or low. It will help you find your physical center so that when we move on to more complicated maneuvers you'll be able to slide into them with ease." Greco gestured her over to the grass pit since it had just been emptied. "For now, we're going to keep on a few of the simpler techniques and strikes you will learn." Once on the grass, he gestured her to the center, the staff in his own hands held lightly and easily while he let her setup. "This one is called the thrust."
He took his staff in a thumb to thumb grip and combined it with the duck hold, holding the staff close against his chest and elbow tucked towards his hip on the left side. Keeping the staff parallel to the ground, he thrust it towards the right first, sliding is right foot forwards until his weight was heavily resting on the right front foot, the rear left stretched and the knee only slightly bent. The jab put the weapon right at neck level, thrust forwards hard enough to hurt a target on impact. She observed that he kept the rear hand in a duck grip at max-range and subconsciously mimicked it with her own but without the power he provided in his targetless attack.
Then, the master shifted, his neck turning his head and his shoulders rotating ever so slightly to repeat the attack in the opposite direction, again aimed perfectly for the neck of an enemy. "As you can see, it's an easily switched and versatile attack, keeping you at maximum distance from your opponent while providing optimal strike. You want to be sure your elbow is kept flush with your body on the rear hand and that your balance is on ball and not the toes of your foot so that you can pivot around for an opposite attack. Let me see you do it now."
Vira took her stance, feet shoulder width apart at the start and her hands (knuckles up) on the staff. She slid her right foot forwards and thrust the weapon at the same time, her elbow tucked out somewhat instead of in. Immediately, Greco stepped in and corrected her with a hand at her elbow to direct the young woman's stance back into its correct posture. "Keep your elbow in, bend your wrist-" he manipulated her hand to its proper place. "Don't slide; step." He demonstrated again. The Endal nodded and reset herself for the attack.
She gripped the staff properly this time and then stepped instead of slid forwards, nostrils flaring as she thrust the head towards the neck of a target, her arm straight and her rear hand tucked close at chest level. Her elbow stayed down. The teen turned her head, shifted her shoulders, and thrust the opposite end of the staff in what had begun as the rear point. Her angle was too far up but before Greco could come to correct it in his firm way, she reset and tried again. Her left foot stepped forwards and she thrust the staff to the 'neck' of her opponent once more, grunting at the force exerted.
"Better. Let's move on."
